Oct 25, 2024 – Sali Berisha, the chairman of Albania’s Democratic Party, has denounced the arrest of Freedom Party leader Ilir Meta, calling the move politically motivated. In a statement made earlier today, Berisha, who has been under house arrest since December 2023, sharply criticized the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) for its actions.
“The arrest of Ilir Meta is a political act ordered by SPAK,” Berisha said in a media briefing. Meta, a former president of Albania and current leader of the Freedom Party, was detained earlier this week following allegations of corruption tied to his dealings with a businessman. Berisha claims the accusations are fabricated and aimed at silencing political opposition.
Berisha, once a close ally of Meta, vowed that the opposition would not back down. He reaffirmed his commitment to civil disobedience, stating that the movement would continue until Albanians could vote freely. “Our plan is clear: civil disobedience, a technical government, and free elections,” he said.
The charges against Meta relate to an alleged arrangement in which he is accused of making deals with a businessman to pass laws in parliament in exchange for personal gain. Berisha dismissed these accusations, emphasizing that Meta’s party had only 20 MPs and could not have passed legislation alone. Instead, he accused SPAK of being manipulated by government forces to target political rivals.
“This is an insult to every Albanian and a violation of the Constitution,” Berisha declared. “A man with only 20 MPs can’t pass a law—laws are passed by those with the majority.”
Berisha also condemned what he called “the desecration of parliament” by SPAK and its collaboration with figures he described as part of a “criminal group.”
